5ic\pcle  Step  feeder, 

.......  Fong...  . . 

STORES,  LIBRARIES,  ETC.,  ^ ■ 


. av  THC  .... 

Bieyele  Step  Cadder  $ompai>y, " 

B 

NQ._50_8TATe  st^'et,  CHICAGO. 


FACTORY  AT  CEDAR  RAPIDS.  IOWA. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/descriptivecatalOObicy 


DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE 


-OF  THK- 


ep 


STORES,  LIBRARIES,  ETC. 


MADE  BY  THE- 


5ic\Jcle  Step  badd^^r  Company, 

CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS. 


ICTO  O,  IMOO. 

OTHER  PATENTS  PENDING. 


CEDAR  RAPIDS,  IOWA: 
LACRANCE  & CARR,  PRINTERS, 


STRAIGHTlLADDER.  track  on  the  base  shelf. 

Made  of  either  Oak  or  Hard  Pine.  Natural  finished  wood.  Japaned  or 
Nickel  Plated  Mountings. 


(2) 


It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  we  present  this,  our  second 
catalogue  of  the  Bicvci.k  S i k.)>  Laddi-ks,  to  the  trade.  We  have 
recently  made  nian\'  valuable  improvements  in  the  ladders,  and 
have  largely  increased  'oiir  manufacturing  facilities,  to  keep 
pace  with  the  growing  demand  for  our  goods.  The  ladders  are 
now  in  use  in  many  of  the  largest  houses,  in  all  classes  of  busi- 
ness, in  all  the  principal  cities  in  the  country,  and  they  have 
been  sold  into  every  state  and  territory  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada. 

Other  systems  of  rolling  ladders  have  found  a place  on  the 
market- on  account  of  the  greater  ease  of  operating  them  than 
the  ordinary  step  ladder,  and  now  in  its  turn  the  Bicycle  system 
is  taking  the  place  of  these  others  for  the  same  reason;  that 
they  are  as  much  easier  to  operate  than  the  older  systems,  as 
the  older  ones  were  than  the  common  step  ladders.  This  point 
of  ‘-ease  of  operation”  being  the  only  advantage  in  any  rolling 
ladder  over  the  old  step  ladders  carried  around  by  hand. 

As  the  name  suggests,  the  “Bic3’cle”  ladders  will  be  found 
in  operation  to  compare  with  other  rolling  ladders,  as  thesmooth 
running  “Safet\’”  compares  with  the  draj'  or  lumber  wagon. 

The  manufacturer  of  these  ladders  has  had  manj'  years  of 
practical  experience  in  store  work,  and  has  made  the  ladder 
business  a stud\’,  and  no  pains  are  being  spared  to  make  our 
ladders  in  eveiy  feature  meet  every  practical  recpiirement  that 
ma\'  be  demanded  of  them,  and  the  unprecedented  sale  of  the 
ladders  in  the  short  time  the\’  have  been  on  the  market,  shows 
that  in  a large  measure  we  have  been  successful  in  attaining  this 
end. 


BENT  LADDER,  TRACK  ON  BASE  SHELF. 

Made  of  Oak  or  Hard  Pine,  Natural  Finish  Wood.  Japaned  or 
Nickel  Plated  Mountings. 


(4) 


1 

I 

1 


DESCRIPTION. 


The  Bicycle  Step  Ladder,  as  the  name  implies,  is  simply  a 
two  wheeled  ladder — a strong  and  well  made  ladder  mounted 
on  two  wheels,  arranged  to  roll  on  a light  metal  track,  placed 
either  on  the  edge  of  the  base  shelf  or  the  floor,  and  provided 
with  a round,  nicely  finished  wooden  pole,  secured  by  orna- 
mental metal  brackets  to  the  face  or  the  shelving,  to  serve  as  a 
rest  for  the  top  of  the  ladder,  and  as  a smooth  continuous  sur- 
face along  which  it  may  slide  in  traveling  from  place  to  place 
along  the  shelving.  A pair  of  stout  iron  hooks  secured  to  the 
top  of  the  ladder  extend  over  and  partly  around  this  pole,  but 
in  such  a way  as  ordinarily  not  to  come  in  contact  with  it. 
These  serve  to  prevent  the  ladder  from  tilting  away  from  the 
shelving  when  you  lean  backward,  standing  on  it. 

By  reference  to  the  cuts,  you  will  observe  that  on  whatever 
step  of  the  ladder  the  operator  may  stand,  the  weight  of  his 
body  may  be  adjusted  so  as  to  be  directly  in  line  with,  and 
above  the  points  of  support  of  the  ladder  (the  wheels).  The 
ladder  is  thus  balanced  on  the  wheels,  and  will  travel  along  the 
track  with  the  expenditure  of  the  least  amount  of  exertion,  as 
there  is  no  friction  whatever  at  the  top  of  the  ladder,  and  the 
very  least  amount  possible  at  the  wheels. 

It  will  be  found  so  easy  to  move  the  ladder  while  standing 
upon  it,  that,  were  it  desired  to  reach  an  object  fifty  feet  or 
more  distant,  one  or  two  pushes  against  the  shelving  with  the 
hand,  will  propel  you  the  entire  distance  with  ease. 

The  ladder  occupies  not  more  than  one  inch  of  the  width 
of  the  base  shelf,  and  is  so  constructed  that  the  wheels  will  not 
run  over  or  injure  the  smallest  object  that  may  be  in  its  way. 

A very  useful  feature  of  the  ladders  and  one  greatly  ap- 
preciated, is  the  addition  of  an  extra  wide  shelf  at  the  top, 
which  in  connection  with  the  wide  steps  of  the  ladder  proper, 
affords  great  convenience  in  handling  goods  and  arranging 
stock  on  the  shelving. 


(5) 


WHY  THE  BICYCLE  STEP  LADDERS  ARE  THE  BEST. 


They  occupy  the  least  space  in  j'our  store  and  can  be  used 
in  narrow  aisles,  behind  counter,  where  no  other  ladder  could 
•be  used. 

They  do  their  work  quicker  and  easier  than  others,  saving 
time  and  labor. 

Ladders  with  operator  on,  move  easier  than  others  empty. 

Ladders  move  so  easily  that  should  they  be  in  the  way,  or 
should  they  be  wanted  in  a distant  part  of  the  house,  a gentle 
push  will  move  them  many  feet  and  a decided  one  will  send 
them  loo  feet  along  the  track,  if  necessary. 

Ladders  operate  nearly  noiselessly. 

With  the  new  adjustments  ladders  cannot  jump  the  track 
while  in  operation. 

The  light  metal  track  and  handsome  turned  pole  used  with 
these  ladders  are  an  ornamental  addition  to  the  store  fittings 
and  do  not  disfigure  them  or  interfere  with  the  use  of  the  shelv- 
ing as  do  the  heavy  iron  tracks  used  with  other  ladder  sy  stems. 

The  advantages  of  having  ladders  supported  on  solid 
foundation  at  bottom  rather  than  be  suspended  from  ceiling  or 
insecure  shelving,  are  too  numerous  and  obvious  to  need  men- 
tion. 

Ladders  are  made  in  a variety  of  materials,  finishes  and 
prices  to  accommodate  any  demand. 

More  than  double  the  results  can  be  accomplished  from  an 
equal  amount  of  labor  with  the  Bicycle  Ladders,  than  with 
any  other  device  for  reacliing  high  shelving  yet  invented. 


(6) 


THE  NEW  FLOOR  TRACK  BICYCLE  STEP  LADDERS. 


Accompanying  illustration  shows  our  new 
improved  Floor  Track  Bicycle  Ladder,  for 
use  where  it  is  not  desirable  to  have  the  track 
on  the  base  shelf,  and  illustrates  the  device 
which  prevents  the  ladders  from  coming  off 
the  track.  The  short  arm  F extends  from 
the  ladder  to  within  about  ^ inch  of  the 
base  board  of  the  shelving,  so  that  were  the 
ladder  disturbed,  the  short  distance  which 
this  will  allow  it  to  fall  does  not  permit  the 
wheels  to  get  out  of  position  with  the  track, 
and  as  the  ladder  would  have  to  fall  xip  to 
get  off  on  the  outside,  it  will  be  only  on  very 
rare  occasions  that  the  ladder  will  get  off  the 
track  at  all. 

B\'  the  use  of  this  device  (which  we 
have  had  patented)  we  do  away  with  the  in- 
convenience of  a high  projecting  rail  and 
deep  grooved  wheels  to  accomplish  the  same 
purpose,  and  use  a track  so  nearly  Hat  (but 
3-16  inch  in  height)  as  to  offer  no  inconveni- 
ence from  its  use  whatever,  and  the  ladders  are 
better  protected  against  leaving  the 
rail  than  they  would  be  were  the 
track  man}'  times  higher. 

The  success  of  this  ladder  is  complete,  as  it  obviates  all  the 
objectionable  features  of  a hanging  ladder,  and  is  operated  in 
all  respects  as  easily  as  our  base  shelf  Bicycle  ladder. 

The  floor  track  ladders  are  made  either  straight  or  bent, 
and  may  be  used  with  shelving  ha\  ing  an\'  width  base  or  no 
base  at  all.  Made  in  either  oak  or  hard  pine  with  japaned  or 
nickel  finished  mountings. 


(7) 


BENT  LADDER,  TRACK  ON  FLOOR. 

Made  of  Oak  or  Hard  Pine.  Natural  Finished  Wood.  Japaned  or 
Nickel  Plated  Mountings. 


(8) 


In  ordering  send  diagram,  giving  measurements.  D to  C;  D to  A;  A to  B; 
B to  S;  also,  B to  S';  and  B to  S"  as  above:  give  length  of  each  run  and  the 
number  of  standards  in  shelving  and  their  distance  apart.  State  how  many 
and  what  kind  of  ladders  are  wanted,  also  the  kind  of  track,  and  give  ship- 
ping directions. 


(9) 


p peu/  Sampl<^  l/oluQtary  S<^5tifnof)ial5. 


NOTE  TO  PROSPECTIVE  BUYERS. 

We  are  well  aware  that  a list  of  testimonials,  however  long, 
has  little  value  to  a shrewd  bu5?er  if  the  same  have  been  ob- 
tained b)'  solicitatiun  for  publication.  Who  would  not  sign  a pe- 
tition or  write  a testimonial — and  a good  one — if  asked?  We 
have,  therefore,  selected  a few  extracts  from  letters  received  in 
the  ordinary  course  of  business  from  our  customers,  everyone  of 
which  was  entirely  vobintary,  called  forth  only  b}’  the  writer’s  ap- 
preciation of  an  exceptionally  good  thing.  We  could  present 
many  more,  but,  the  following  will  show  the  estimation  in 
which  our  work  is  held  by  those  who  have  used  it.  We  own 
and  control  every  patent  on  Bicycle  Step  Ladders.  If  offered  bj^ 
anyone  else  they  are  an  infringement  on  our  rights. 

THE  BICYCLE  STEP  LADDER  CO- 

Allow  me  to  compliment  you  on  the  best  ladder  iti  the  market. 
It  works  like  a charm,  and  to-da}’  I would  not  take  double  the 
amount  for  the  ladders  which  I paid.  Respectfull)’, 

Jxo.  W.  Fletemeyer,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Will  say  that  we  would  not  do  without  the  Bicycle  Step 
Ladders  for  fve  times  the  cost. 

L.  A.  G.\tes,  Xewton,  Iowa. 

Enclosed  find  draft  in  payment  of  bill  of  April  12.  I am 
very  ivell  pleased  with  the  ladder. 

C.  Antoni,  Paterson,  N.  J. 

* * The  ladders  are  very  satisfactory,  indeed. 

John  C.  Wynd  & Co,  Peoria,  Illinois. 

I have  used  the  ladders  now  a few  days,  and  am  perfectly  sat- 
isfied ivith  them.  They  are  the  best  that  I ever  saw,  and  3'ou 
can  refer  any  one  you  wish  to  me. 

George  W.  Shaw,  Mattoon,  Illinois. 


The  ladders  work  all  right,  and  g- /re  perfect  satisfaction. 

Frank  Stanton,  Clay  Center,  Neb. 

Ladders  ivork  like  a charm,  and  are  highly  satisfactory  in  every 
■way.  They  enable  ns  to  utilize  a great  deal  of  space  that  was 
heretofore  useless.  Yours  respectfully, 

Goetter,  Weie  & Co.,  Montgomery,  Ala. 

The  step  ladder  is  giving  perfect  satisfaction,  and  we  do  not 
know  that  it  could  be  improved. 

Putnam  & Tapping,  Peoria,  111. 

Ladders  received.  They  are  dandies.  Could  not  do  business 
without  them- 

N.  C.  Cummings,  Mendota,  111. 

The  ladders  sent  us  have  arrived,  and  are  put  in  place,  and 
are  very  satisfactory  to  us,  and  very  attractive  to  our  people  at  large, 
as  we  are  the  first  ones  in  our  city  and  this  part  of  the  State  to 
use  ladders. 

C.  & \V.  Gunther,  Chilicothe,  Ohio. 

Enclosed  find  draft  in  payment  of  bill.  Ladders  very  satis- 
factory. 

Deane  & Porter,  Oneonta,  N.  Y. 

The  ladders  are  all  up  and  in  shape,  and  are  giving  the  best 
satisfaction . 

Fisher  & Son,  Clyde,  N.  Y. 

Enclosed  find  draft  in  payment  of  bill  for  ladder.  It  works  to 
perfection. 

L.  N.  Howe,  St.  Charles,  Minn. 

* * They  are  far  ahead  of  all  others.  Mine  are  per- 

fect. 

F.  1.  D.ay,  Lewiston,  Maine. 

Have  only  used  the  ladders  four  days,  but  am  perfectly 
charmed  with  them. 

\V.  P.  Suttee,  McKiuny,  Texas. 

Ill) 


I am  very  well  pleased  with  the  ladders  you  sent  me.  / 
would  not  710W  be  without  them. 

J.  M.  Nolan,  Corvallis,  Ore. 

Enclosed  please  find  draft  in  payment  for  ladder.  The  lad- 
der is  perfect,  and  works  charynmgly. 

Alber  t Murry,  Charlotte,  Mich. 

We  find  the  ladders  to  be  very  satisfactory;  the  most  complete 
and  satisfactory  we  could  possiblj’  have  procured. 

J.  P.  WOOLMN  & Co.,  Helena,  Mont. 

I am  much  pleased  with  it.  It  does  its  work  very  well. 
Would  not  be  without  it  for  twice  what  I paid  for  it. 

J.  H.  Fisher,  Wellsville,  N.  Y. 

I received  the  ladders,  and  have  them  placed  in  good  order, 
and  I am  more  thayi  pleased  with  them,  and  I consider  them  a 
great  invention. 

L-  T.  Berry,  Mt.  Sterling,  111. 

The  working  of  the  ladder  is  very  satisfactory . 

S.  L.  Young,  Auburn,  Maine. 

Ladders  received  and  in  position.  I am  much  pleased  with 
them,  and  they  are  adyniration  of  several  other  merchants 
Should  be  unwilling  to  part  with  them  now- 

C-  F.  Reed,  Hudson,  Mass. 

Gentleman:  * * have  now  had  the 

ladder  in  use  for  ten  months,  and  would  yiot  be  without  them  for 
ayiy  price.  * * =(=  \ye  have  seen  ladders  of  other 

makes  in  use,  but  would  not  accept  them  as  a gift  were  it  possi- 
ble to  obtain  yours. 

Keep  & Clancy,  Clinton,  Iowa. 

We  would  not  be  without  the  ladders,  and  we  would  rather 
have  your  ladder  thayi  ayiy  other  Vi  ^ know  of.  Every  shoe  store 
should  have  them. 

Wild  & Rall,  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa. 

We  present  the  above  as  a few  samples  only.  We  have  hundreds  more 
on  file  of  the  same  tenor. 


(12) 


